Royals Rumblings - News for November 5, 2024
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Anne Rogers covers the press conference announcing the Michael Wacha deal.
“Not only does it bring our starting rotation back that we’re really proud of – really, our success began with starting pitching – but it brings us clarity,” Picollo said. “There’s not a whole lot for us to worry about from a pitching perspective right now. We can move onto other things that we feel like we need to do. The timing of this was really good. You check off the big box early in the offseason. And now we have three, four months before the season starts to try to make whatever changes we’re going to make.
“With support from ownership and understanding how important it was to get Michael back in the fold, it just really fell in place really quickly.”
"We're very fired up to be back in Kansas City and continue building this team..." -Michael Wacha pic.twitter.com/f19GjyaOSf
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) November 4, 2024
Davy Andrews at Fangraphs reviews the Wacha deal.
The second question is how much Wacha will be able to contribute over the next three (or four seasons). It’s reassuring that his fastball velocity ticked up 1.5 mph from 2023 to 2024, but it’s still below average. One fully healthy season doesn’t set aside the durability concerns. He missed time with shoulder inflammation in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and shoulders generally don’t start getting healthier in your fourth decade. Wacha made 29 starts in 2024, a mark he had reached just twice before, and neither of the previous seasons came in this decade. Even if he does remain relatively healthy as he enters his mid-30s, it would be unreasonable to expect a repeat performance of arguably the best season of his career. Beating your FIP as a fly-ball pitcher is a dangerous game. It’s one of those things that works until it doesn’t, and the Royals have signed on to find out how long Wacha can make it last. Wacha has parlayed a couple of excellent seasons into some long-term security with a club that finally seems focused on winning. But if the Royals are intent on making it back to the postseason, they’ve still got work ahead of them.
Manager Matt Quatraro chimes in on Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. getting nominated for Silver Slugger Awards.
“I think they are definitely deserving,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They were two of the best offensive performers all year, not only for us, but league wide. (It’s) definitely deserving. I think they are the kind of guys that we are going to build around and they are great on the field and off the field.”
Jaylon Thompson talks to Carter Jensen about the check-swing challenge system begin tested in the Arizona Fall League.
“I think it’s kind of a blessing and a curse, especially being a catcher and, you know, trying to get your pitcher out of a tough inning and they call a check swing,” Jensen said. “All of a sudden, a challenge happens and it’s overturned. But also, like as a hitter, it can be super clutch if you know you didn’t go and wanted to challenge it.”
Brewers GM Matt Arnold wins Executive of the Year.
The Phillies claim former Royals reliever John McMillon off waivers from the Marlins.
Gerrit Cole stays with the Yankees on a four-year, $144 million deal.
Nathan Eovaldi declines his $20 million option.
Guardians All-Star David Fry undergoes elbow surgery and will miss next season.
The Astros waive pitcher Jose Urquidy.
Guardians reliever James Karinchak is granted free agency.
Ben Clemens at Fangraphs ranks the top 50 free agents.
Who could be Juan Soto’s top suitors and what would they offer?
The World Series has its best ratings in seven years.
What to look for as the GM meetings begin.
The A’s officially drop “Oakland” from their team name.
Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly roasts the Yankees.
Should the MLB season be shorter?
The Yokohama DeNA BayStars win their first Japan Series in 26 years.
Is Derrick Henry the last great franchise runningback?
Previewing the college basketball season as it kicks off this week.
How Quincy Jones created superstars and changed pop history.
Without humans, what would happen to our planet?
Robert Zemeckis is interested in doing a musical adaptation of Back to the Future.
Your song of the day is Chicago with Vote for Me.